Badou Jack vacates WBC super middleweight title

Badou Jack has vacated his WBC super-middleweight title, four days after retaining the belt in a action-packed majority draw with IBF champion James DeGale.

The WBC announced on Wednesday that Jack is moving up in weight to light heavyweight and will vacate the 168-pound title.

"The WBC has received official notification from WBC super middleweight champion, Badou Jack, who has decided to move up in weight and compete in the light heavyweight division," the WBC said in a statement. "Consequently, the super middleweight championship of the world has been declared vacant. The WBC wishes Badou Jack continuous success and the best of luck in his boxing career hoping that one day he will compete for the light heavyweight championship of the world."

Callum Smith was the mandatory challenger to Jack and he will likely fight for the vacant title against WBC number 2 ranked Anthony Dirrell, who previously held the belt.

Jack won the WBC title by majority decision against Dirrell in April 2015 and made three successful defences, two of which ended in a draw.

In his first defence, Sweden-born Jack, who lives in Las Vegas, outpointed Britain's George Groves by split decision in September 2015. Then last April in his second defence, he fought to a majority draw with former IBF titleholder Lucian Bute, who tested positive for a banned substance after the fight.